AAP StatShot data showed U.S. publisher revenue rose 0.9% in the first quarter of 2026 to about $2.9 billion, with gains in children’s/YA, professional, university press and education categories offset by declines in adult books and religion.
AAP StatShot data show U.S. publisher revenue rose modestly in the first quarter of 2026, offering a narrow rebound for the industry rather than broad-based growth.
Reporting publishers generated about $2.9 billion in revenue in the quarter, up 0.9% from the same period a year earlier, according to the Association of American Publishers' StatShot report.
The gains were concentrated in a handful of categories. Children's and young adult titles rose 2.6%, while professional and scholarly titles and university press titles each increased 5.7%. Education also posted gains.
Not every segment moved higher. Adult books fell 0.5% in the quarter, and religion declined 1.4%.
The figures point to a publishing market that is still uneven, with selective category strength helping lift overall revenue even as parts of the market remain under pressure.
Publishers Weekly reported the StatShot results on May 18, the same day the AAP release was published.
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